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[JHSingo]

The Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship - 2018 season thread

 

2018 marks an important occasion in British motorsport, as one of the country's best loved series celebrates its 60 birthday.

 

 

(Contrary to popular belief, not all touring car drivers race while under the influence of alcohol. A small minority, maybe...)

 

 

I love the BTCC - and you should too. While it's sometimes chaotic and occasionally baffling, it is always unpredictable and exciting. The last two years have featured some of the best action in the series history. 2016 featured 12 different winners, and eight were still in contention for the title going into the final round. While this season was a straight fight between eventual champion Ash Sutton (only in his second year of the BTCC) and Colin Turkington, an incredible 14 different drivers managed to win across the 30 races. There's no reason why that competitiveness should change for the new season.

 

It's hard to pick out just a few of the most memorable moments in BTCC history, but the now infamous '92 title deciding race seems like as good a place to start as any:

"The man's an animal" - John Cleland

 

It's far from the only example of tempers getting frayed in the heat of a moment, though. You see, BTCC drivers are known for being far more outspoken than their F1 counterparts, to the point that they have no issue with having it out with each other, often in view of the cameras. Here, for your enjoyment, are just some examples...

Anthony Reid really wasn't popular among his fellow drivers, was he?

 

But this isn't just a series for NASCAR wannabes, oh no. For a start, there's some actual driving talent involved here. Most of the time.

 

Yet it would be a fair assessment to say this is a series that features a regular amount of 'WTF' moments.

 

Finally, I can't post about memorable moments and incidents from the BTCC's past without mentioning the great Murray Walker. Many of you will be familiar with his F1 commentary - but perhaps not as many will know he was, for a time, commentator for the BTCC as well. Which lead to classic moments such as these...

 

With all that covered, let's take a look at what this 2018 season may have in store:

 

What's new?

• Alfa Romeo will return to the BTCC next year, albeit not in a manufacturer role. Handy Motorsport will run a single Guilietta, which will be driven by former race winner, Rob Austin.

      

• There will be a longer, double points race to be held at Snetterton. The race will be sixty miles, which is nearly double the normal race distance for BTCC races. https://www.motorspo...tterton-967010/
• The traditional reversed grid final race will now extend to a maximum of 12 cars, rather than the usual 10. Anyone who finishes between P6-12 will in race two will now have a chance of being drawn on to pole position for race three, in an attempt to create even more carnage excitement.
• Much more news to come over the winter months!

What's old?

• Matt Neal
• Jason Plato
• The calendar, which, for yet another year remains largely unchanged:

Rounds                       Date                                                                 Circuit, County
1,2,3                 Sat 7/Sun 8 April                           Brands Hatch (Indy), Kent
4,5,6                 Sat 28/Sun 29 April                      Donington Park, Leics
7,8,9                 Sat 19/Sun 20 May                       Thruxton, Hampshire
10,11,12          Sat 9/Sun 10 June                         Oulton Park, Cheshire
13,14,15          Sat 23/Sun 24 June                      Croft, North Yorkshire
16,17,18          Sat 28/Sun 29 July                        Snetterton, Norfolk
19,20,21          Sat 11/Sun 12 August                  Rockingham, Northants
22,23,24          Sat 25/Sun 26 August                  Knockhill, Fife          
25,26,27          Sat 15/Sun 16 September           Silverstone, Northants
28,29,30          Sat 29/Sun 30 September           Brands Hatch (Grand Prix), Kent

 

Topics of discussion for the winter

• What has been your favourite BTCC moment/season & why?
• The last two years have seen a youngster (Sam Tordoff in '16, Ash Sutton this year) fighting the championshi's established names for the title - who do you think will be the next young driver to take that step up?
• Will Jason Plato be back after such an awful year, and if so, driving what?
• What track would you like to see on the calendar, and at the expense of what existing venue?
• Anything else you feel like!

The BTCC has featured many classic cars and drivers over its history. Let's hope 2018 turns out to be another great year.

 

Edited by JHSingo, 27 November 2017 - 19:20.

[midgrid]

It sounds like Árón Taylor-Smith won't be coming back in 2018, as he plans to pursue a career in GT racing.

[superden]

Can't wait

[PayasYouRace]

I’d like to see a return to Mondello Park and one of the Welsh circuits. I don’t think a 12 round season would be too costly compared to the current 10.

[Fastcake]

I’d like to see a return to Mondello Park and one of the Welsh circuits. I don’t think a 12 round season would be too costly compared to the current 10.

 

That's been a wish of mine for a few years. It is the British Touring Car Championship after all, and going to Wales and Ireland (the North or the Republic) seems fair to me. And if 12 rounds are not possible, you could swap the Brands Hatch Indy round out.

[king_crud]

Great great great OP. Having grown up in Australia I only followed the BTCC from 92-99 and resumed again when I moved to the UK in 2008. For me all of the 90s stuff was great, it was a light that could never burn on longer than it did, but it produced some great racing and memories

[Disgrace]

Thanks for the clips. Half an hour has just disappeared. April is awfully far away. 

[JHSingo]

Thanks - annoyingly, it's quite hard to find specific clips for the BTCC on YouTube. I guess that's due to the fact it isn't massively well known (particularly outside of the UK), but it isn't helped by Duke Video taking down clips either. I used to have the last few laps of Silverstone 1992 and the Donington Mansell race from 1998 in a 'favourite motorsport clips' playlist, but both have since been taken down unfortunately.

 

Hopefully they might start putting some classic clips out on social media next year to mark the occasion - it'd be great to relive some of those memorable races.

[superden]

I only followed the BTCC from 92-99.

At least you saw '92.

Best BTCC season ever, always will be.

[midgrid]

Thanks for the clips. Half an hour has just disappeared. April is awfully far away. 

 

Duke released the 1994-1999 season reviews on DVD earlier this year...just saying.

[JHSingo]

Duke released the 1994-1999 season reviews on DVD earlier this year...just saying.

 

Also, if you fancy something a bit more recent - there's this year's season review next Sunday (3rd December) on ITV4 at 5pm.

[BRG]

That's been a wish of mine for a few years. It is the British Touring Car Championship after all, and going to Wales and Ireland (the North or the Republic) seems fair to me. And if 12 rounds are not possible, you could swap the Brands Hatch Indy round out.

I agree about Wales, although the only realistic option would be Pembrey.  Anglesey is just too remote to attract a good crowd.

 

If there was a decent track in N. Ireland, they should go there, but there isn't.  No special reason to race in the Republic though, any more than going to Belgium or France.  Mondello isn't worth the trip. 

[f1paul]

Great OP. I do love the BTCC but it isn't quite VA Supercars. I know we've discussed this before but I just love the Supercars.

 

Looking forward to the 2018 BTCC season (hope it's as good as this year's and we don't get robbed of a dramatic finale) cough Sunday Newcastle race 2!   

 

[Must recover from that cough that I got on Sunday]

[midgrid]

Would you approve of it being renamed British Supercars?

[JHSingo]

Great OP. I do love the BTCC but it isn't quite VA Supercars. I know we've discussed this before but I just love the Supercars.

 

Looking forward to the 2018 BTCC season (hope it's as good as this year's and we don't get robbed of a dramatic finale) cough Sunday Newcastle race 2!   

 

[Must recover from that cough that I got on Sunday]

 

You mean the Commodore cup? At least BTCC has better variety on its grid than Supercars has!

[king_crud]

Would you approve of it being renamed British Supercars?

I remember when the Oz championship was the ATCC

[LBDN]

When you see the amount of action in the likes of the BTCC/ Auz Supercars etc, it really does make me wonder what the appeal of F1 actually is these days.

[f1paul]

Would you approve of it being renamed British Supercars?

Ah yes, that makes it much better!   

[f1paul]

You mean the Commodore cup? At least BTCC has better variety on its grid than Supercars has!

 

Ford won the manufacturers' championship this year and Penske (Ford team) won the teams' Yes BTCC has more variety but it's much more artificial than the Supercars which I think cancels out the variety and some.  

[JHSingo]

I thought Ford had withdrawn as a manufacturer a couple of years ago?

 

Supercars needs some differing makes and models on the grid to make it more interesting to me. Hopefully their next regulations allow that, but it's a pity Volvo quit and the Mercs aren't on the grid anymore.

[f1paul]

I thought Ford had withdrawn as a manufacturer a couple of years ago?

 

Supercars needs some differing makes and models on the grid to make it more interesting to me. Hopefully their next regulations allow that, but it's a pity Volvo quit and the Mercs aren't on the grid anymore.

Technically yeah but the "Fords" are still badged as Fords. Yeah I was very disappointed at the Volvo departure, they were looking good and I supported them. I can also see Nissan leaving after next year unfortunately as well. Oh well, it will just be back to pre-2013. Like you said the new regulations will hopefully interest more manufacturers.

 

But hey, I found the BTCC finale in a thread I just started. Don't know how I just happened to be looking on some guy's YouTube account.   

[midgrid]

It's no surprise that the BTCC will feature a capacity 32-car grid again next season.

 

The interest is in the details, of which the first has emerged: Team HARD will collaborate with Brisky Racing to expand to a four-car entry.  Bobby Thompson is their only driver confirmed so far.

[midgrid]

The mock-up of the Alfa Romeo-Sauber and the marque's return to the BTCC as well inspire me to indulge in some more nostalgia:

 

[JHSingo]

Perhaps it is my age, but I'll always associate Alfa more with touring car racing than anything else. It's where they belong.

[V8 Fireworks]

The mock-up of the Alfa Romeo-Sauber and the marque's return to the BTCC as well inspire me to indulge in some more nostalgia:

 

I think that's a model rather than a real car, as the window frames look strange.

 

Do you happen to know why they built a Giulietta rather than the RWD Giulia? 

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 01 December 2017 - 22:10.

[king_crud]

Perhaps it is my age, but I'll always associate Alfa more with touring car racing than anything else. It's where they belong.

Yep (Australian touring car not withstanding)

[V8 Fireworks]

 

 

Yep (Australian touring car not withstanding)

 

Don't mind the Datsun!

 

 

I'm a little confused what is the correct name for the Alfas with the riveted aluminium fenders, and what category they raced in  -- anyone know? 

Edited by V8 Fireworks, 02 December 2017 - 07:11.

[TecnoRacing]

Alfa GTAm 2000 I think...racing in the European Touring Car Championship?

[LBDN]

Looking forward to the new season.

Always found myself going every year to watch a round but never really got massively into the BTCC as much as F1.

In hindsight it was because my local venue was Thruxton which feels slightly cheapy and thus made the BTCC feel a bit cheapy too.

Then went Brands Hatch and Donington to watch the BTCC at proper and well maintained race tracks and ever since my interest in Touring cars now far exceeds F1.

[midgrid]

Rob Huff wants to return to the BTCC in 2018 - although this would probably still be part-time.

[midgrid]

Jeff Smith will sit out the 2018 season as he continues to recover from his shoulder injury.

[drionita]

 

 

As a Merc fan, is that a W114/115 behind the Alfa? When did it enter BTCC? It would be interesting (for me, of course ), more with some other picture! Thank you!

Edited by drionita, 07 December 2017 - 07:01.

[BRG]

As a Merc fan, is that a W114/115 behind the Alfa? When did it enter BTCC? It would be interesting (for me, of course ), more with some other picture! Thank you!

That isn't a picture from the BTCC.  I think it was maybe taken at Montjuich Park in Barcelona.  AFAIK Mercedes were never used in the British championship until the recent A class entries.

[midgrid]

Apparently Ciceley's Mercedes entry was the first in the BTCC "since the 1980s", but my historical knowledge prior to the Super Touring era is non-existent, so I don't know the details.

[lustigson]

Sure looks like a happy bunch, judging from all those videos.   

[JHSingo]

Jeff Smith will sit out the 2018 season as he continues to recover from his shoulder injury.

 

That's a shame. Jeff has really developed as a driver since he began in the BTCC, to the point that on his day he's very capable of being right at the sharp end - as he proved on a couple of occasions this year prior to the accident.

 

I wonder if he will return as a driver, or be more content to slip into a team managerial role - particularly if his son Brett is still in one of the cars. If they can keep Jack Goff and Brett for next season, I bet they'll be very competitive again.

[sportyskells]

speaking of injured drivers any news on Luke returning to Brands Hatch next year? (he was part of the same crash that caused Croft to canned qualying)

[JHSingo]

I did see something about Luke shaking down Motorbase's new TCR car a few weeks back, but what his plans are for next year and the BTCC specifically, I'm not sure.

[drionita]

That isn't a picture from the BTCC.  I think it was maybe taken at Montjuich Park in Barcelona.  AFAIK Mercedes were never used in the British championship until the recent A class entries.

Thank you for the infos, it matches with what I knew about Mercedes/BTCC

[midgrid]

Reigning Clio champion Mike Bushell will return to the series in the second of the four Team HARD VWs.

Edited by midgrid, 08 December 2017 - 16:44.

[midgrid]

Matt Simpson moves from Dynamics to Eurotech.  Eurotech will continue to run two other cars, so in grid-filling terms, it's just a change of name.

[JHSingo]

Reigning Clio champion Mike Bushell will return to the series in the second of the four Team HARD VWs.

 

Hopefully it goes better for him than his last stint in the series did. Although he seems to have improved quite a bit, judging by the Clio results.

 

Matt Simpson moves from Dynamics to Eurotech.  Eurotech will continue to run two other cars, so in grid-filling terms, it's just a change of name.

 

Glad it's not at the expense of Jack Goff, at least!

[Disgrace]

Simpson is the new Andy Neate. What's the point of him driving around at the back in race-winning machinery?

[king_crud]

Simpson is the new Andy Neate. What's the point of him driving around at the back in race-winning machinery?

He probably helps fund the race winning machinery

[midgrid]

Tom Chilton will remain in the BTCC for 2018, switching to Motorbase.

[Kraken]

Huff to Vauxhall then? 

[Silverstone96]

hard to get excited about the alfa entry with what will essentially be an 8 year old car - I'm surprised the FIAT group even allowed it.

Edited by Silverstone96, 20 December 2017 - 14:35.

[JHSingo]

Tom Chilton will remain in the BTCC for 2018, switching to Motorbase.

 

Be interesting to see who Motorbase retains - whether either Rory Butcher or Luke Davenport will be back. I believe Mat Jackson's return is already confirmed, due to the multi-year deal with Shredded Wheat. I hope that if they continue with three cars, that Depper is the one that goes. He doesn't really add anything to the series other than the occasional safety car intervention.

[Kraken]

Be interesting to see who Motorbase retains - whether either Rory Butcher or Luke Davenport will be back. I believe Mat Jackson's return is already confirmed, due to the multi-year deal with Shredded Wheat. I hope that if they continue with three cars, that Depper is the one that goes. He doesn't really add anything to the series other than the occasional safety car intervention.

 

How much money does he bring from espares though?

[F1matt]

hard to get excited about the alfa entry with what will essentially be an 8 year old car - I'm surprised the FIAT group even allowed it.

 

Maybe they are hoping it will lead to bigger things? Rob Austin was a fan favourite when he ran his Audi program, he looks to have lost that by merging his team with Simon Belcher and running a Toyota but a few good results and some headlines for him and Alfa may lead to bigger things?